2007

arrangement of a waiata by Erima Maewa Kaihau (1879-1941) for SSA and piano

By:

• David Hamilton

Arranged by:

David Hamilton

Duration:

02' 45"

Availability

• This work has a score and a recording

Programme Note

This waiata (Maori song) was written around 1918 by Erima Maewa Kaihau (1879-1941). She was also involved in the complex gestation of the song Now is the Hour.

E moe te Ra is very much in the late Victorian tradition of song writing and owes little to traditional Maori song forms or styles. The English “translation” in the score begins: “Shadows of evening bring tender thoughts of thee beloved…”. The music has an unusual phrase structure and some unexpected harmonic turns. In this arrangement some re-harmonisation has been used, particularly in the first half. The second half fellows the original harmonies more closely. Rather than set the English of the printed music, the Maori words are sung through twice, with a short introduction and coda.

The arrangement was made at the request of choral director David Gordon of Diocesan School for Girls, Auckland.

Text Note:

Text by Maewa Kaihau

Difficulty:

Intermediate